Bible Strands
Proverbs 28:4
Those who forsake the law praise the wicked, but those who keep the law resist them.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The book of Proverbs addresses a student with wisdom instructions, positioning this verse between a warning about oppressive leadership and a contrast between evil men and those who seek the LORD.
The words — עֹזְבֵי ('o.ze.Vei) translates literally as "those who forsake," while יִתְגָּרוּ (yit.Ga.ru) means "they engage in strife."
The thread — The theme of opposing unlawful conduct appears in Romans 1:32, which states that people know God’s decree yet continue in such acts, and Ephesians 5:11, which commands exposure of darkness’s deeds. Matthew 14:4 also records a declaration of unlawfulness against improper conduct.
Why it lands — The text states that abandoning the law results in praising the wicked, while keeping it produces active resistance against them. It asks a reader to choose law-keeping as the basis for confronting wickedness rather than joining its approval.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
They that forsake the law praise the wicked: but such as keep the law contend with them.
Cross-references
- Romans 1:32 Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things are worthy of death, they not only continue to do these things, but also approve of those who practice them.
- Ephesians 5:11 Have no fellowship with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.
- Matthew 14:4 because John had been telling him, “It is not lawful for you to have her.”
- Matthew 3:7 But when John saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his place of baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?
- 1 Kings 18:18 “I have not troubled Israel,” Elijah replied, “but you and your father’s house have, for you have forsaken the commandments of the LORD and have followed the Baals.
- Psalms 10:3 For the wicked man boasts in the cravings of his heart; he blesses the greedy and reviles the LORD.
- Psalms 49:18 Though in his lifetime he blesses his soul—and men praise you when you prosper—
- 1 John 4:5 They are of the world. That is why they speak from the world’s perspective, and the world listens to them.
- 1 Kings 18:21 Then Elijah approached all the people and said, “How long will you waver between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him. But if Baal is God, follow him.” But the people did not answer a word.
- 2 Kings 3:13 Elisha, however, said to the king of Israel, “What have we to do with each other? Go to the prophets of your father and of your mother!” “No,” replied the king of Israel, “for it is the LORD who has summoned these three kings to deliver them into the hand of Moab.”